Black Oregon Land Trust (BOLT) Celebrates Acquisition of a New 20-Acre Farm in Corbett, Oregon.
Corbett, OR, November 2023 — Black Oregon Land Trust (BOLT) is thrilled to announce the successful purchase of its second property, a 20-acre working farm located in Corbett, Oregon. This significant acquisition marks a major milestone in BOLT's ongoing efforts to ensure land access and agricultural opportunities for Black communities in Oregon.
This newly acquired farm is now home to Shantae Johnson and Arthur Shavers, the Black farming family behind Mudbone Grown Farm. With this land, Johnson and Shavers will continue their impactful work through their nonprofit, Feed’em Freedom Foundation, which supports food-insecure families across the Portland Metro Area.
The acquisition was made possible through the collaboration and support of two key community partners: East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) and local community members, Lily Copenagle & Jamie Kennel. EMSWCD, who previously owned the land, listed and sold the property subject to a working farmland easement— a legal agreement that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. This type of easement is typically used to preserve natural resources, wildlife habitats, open spaces, and agricultural lands. The easement lowered the price of the land for prospective buyers, which, in turn, made the purchase more financially accessible to BOLT, demonstrating a community-centered approach to land conservation and support.
“We are thrilled that Mudbone Grown and BOLT are preserving the long agricultural legacy of this property with our support. Together with the community, we are protecting farmland, boosting local production, and addressing past and current inequities in farmland access,” explains Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, Chair of the EMSWCD Board of Directors and a part-time farmer in Corbett, Oregon.
The District’s Farmland Protection Program has preserved some of the most valuable land for agriculture in East Multnomah County and has completed several farmland access transactions benefiting a diversity of farmers, including long established commercial nursery producers and newer farmers with community supported agriculture (CSA) vegetable operations. “As the land available for farming in our district declines, this program is essential to the long-term success and viability of agriculture in our District," she added.
BOLT continues to explore innovative funding pathways to support Black farmers, moving away from conventional lending systems to more community-oriented solutions. This strategy was exemplified in the use of a private loan facilitated by Lily & Jamie Copenagle, which made this acquisition possible. “We believe deeply in BOLT's mission and w’ere eager to leverage our access to capital, which we know we acquired through the privilege bestowed upon us as white people in a racist society, to the Gordon Creek property purchase. We see this as a small but tangible act that aligns with our commitment to reparations and rematriation,” comments Lily Copenagle & Jamie Kennel.
This purchase not only provides the Mudbone Grown family with stable and adequate housing but also enhances their capacity to grow their farm production significantly. As a result, they can extend their reach in feeding hundreds more families facing food insecurity in the area. “When our land is secure…we can continue to grow and deepen our impact in the community,” says Shantae Johnson.
BOLT continues to explore innovative funding pathways to support Black farmers, moving away from conventional lending systems to more community-oriented solutions. This strategy was exemplified in the use of a private loan facilitated by Lily & Jamie Copenagle, which made this acquisition possible.
For more information, please contact:
Qiddist Ashe, Executive Director
qiddist@blackoregonlandtrust.org
About Black Oregon Land Trust (BOLT):
Black Oregon Land Trust is dedicated to securing affordable land access for Black communities in Oregon, enhancing sustainable agricultural skills, and protecting the ecosystems necessary for economically, environmentally, and culturally thriving communities. Our vision is a thriving network of Black farmers and land stewards in Oregon, whose practices in food growth, education, wealth generation, and land stewardship are integrated into a sustainable way of life benefiting all community members.
